NFL owners officially approve Jimmy Haslam’s purchase of the Browns

Phil Stokes was not here for an interview. He was not here to photo bomb the NFL Network. All Phil Stokes wanted was a glimpse of Haslam as he walked by and to be a part of the moment. Phil Stokes is a Browns fan.

“It’s a banner day in Cleveland Browns history,” Stokes said. “I had to be a part of it. If I get a chance to shake his hand, just see him, just to say ‘go Browns’ to him, I would love that opportunity.”

Buzz about the changes in management burned have burned up the wires in the months since August, when Haslam took the first steps toward becoming the owner. News of Holmgren’s exit and Banner’s hire were finally confirmed on Tuesday morning, setting off another wave of speculation about what exactly happened behind the scenes.

“Mike has decided that with our becoming the owner that his role would obviously change,” Haslam revealed. “Mike was brought in to be the president, and I think in a lot of ways the de facto owner. Mike has decided at the end of the year to leave the Cleveland Browns and effectively retire.”

That brings the status of general manager Tom Heckert into question, and according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, he’s not optimistic about his job status:

When the rumors regarding Banner and Holmgren first started, there wasn’t much said about Heckert, and to this point, this is the only thing of substance that has been said regarding his future with the organization.

With Haslam officially becoming owner, a shakeup in management atop the Browns has begun. Via ESPNNFL:

There are conflicting reports as to the ultimate fate of current Browns’ president Mike Holmgren. ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that Holmgren will be out within 24 hours, while his colleague Adam Schefter says Holmgren will retire at the end of the season.

Many NFL owners knew Haslam prior to the sale, and he seems to be universally respected. Said Steelers owner Art Rooney, “He’ll be a great owner, but I wish he wasn’t buying a team in our division.”

Haslam praised Holmgren and his career, calling him a “future Hall of Famer.” As far as any changes in leadership, Haslam played his cards close to his vest, saying only:

New owners, especially when taking over a moribund franchise like the Browns, typically bring in their own people to lead the organization. The scope and pace of changes under Haslam could be shaped by how much progress the team shows during the 2012 season. Massive organizational changes are rarely announced in an introductory press conference.

Not that it’s a surprise, but this probably means the end of Mike Holmgren’s tenure in Cleveland.

Holmgren is team president. Banner was team president in Philadelphia at one point. Unless there’s some kind of team president death match, one would assume Banner is heading to Cleveland with new owner Jimmy Haslam to take over Holmgren’s role.

Banner is reportedly going to be involved in Haslam’s management group, and there would not be enough room for both men atop the organizational chart. Holmgren said Thursday that he was not aware if Banner was taking on a leadership role with the team.

The status of head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert under the new owner will likely hinge on the outcome of the 2012 season. Both men will need to convince their new boss that the team is moving in the right direction after years without much progress. The Browns have just two winning seasons since being reactivated in 1999.

It is still unclear what, if anything, will change in Cleveland now that there is a new majority owner in town. Browns president Mike Holmgren was uncertain about his future at his Friday press conference in light of the pending sale .

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland.

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature and SB Nation Cleveland.

At a Friday press conference prior to the team’s training camp practice, Holmgren confirmed the news about the sale and cast a shadow of doubt on his future with the team.

Holmgren was hired by Lerner three years ago, given near complete control over the organization. During his tenure the Browns have an overall record of 14-34, having never won more than five games in a season.

Browns executive Mike Holmgren told reporters on Friday that if the sale goes through, current owner Randy Lerner “will give up controlling interest in the team.”

The deal has been characterized as “close” by the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. That Lerner already released a statement acknowledging the negotiations suggests this is likely to happen.

From a league source cited in the Plain Dealer report:

On Friday morning, Lerner released a statement revealing that he was in talks to bring Haslam on an “investor” in the team. The extent of that investment was not made clear by Lerner.

From Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

A Friday piece from Forbes has more on Haslam’s background.

It’s not clear what “investment” means. Is he selling the entire team? Or just a small share? Who will be the majority owner?

As recently as June, the Browns said the team is not for sale.